Connor Hellebuyck Pro Reads 4
With Connor Hellebuyck
Reading Flat, Upwards or Downwards Passes off the Rush
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To celebrate Connor Hellebuyck’s new, seven-year, $59.5 million extension with the Winnipeg Jets, let’s go back to the Vezina Trophy winner for another Pro Reads.
Hellebuyck has impressed with his first three video breakdowns and his ability to read rush chances and open looks, which isn’t a shock considering he is statistically the best in the game at managing these types of attacks — and by a large margin.
With that in mind, let’s go back to that well one more time with a 2-on-1.
As with the first three, we’d highly recommend reviewing Hellebuyck’s previous entries before walking through this one to see if you can identify his keys.
THE SEQUENCE
This time Hellebuyck is facing a 2-on-1 rush against the New York Rangers, with Alexis Lafreniere carrying the puck and Artemi Panarin as his passing option:
Hellebuyck isn’t even in the picture yet but even with the attack still in the neutral zone, we know from his past Pro Reads that he is already gathering information.
Based on those previous breakdowns, what is Hellebuyck already keying in on?
What details are you looking for at this point in the rush?
THE SAVE
As you watch the sequence below, see if you can find other cues as to whether this is going to be a shot or a pass? When are you confident it’s one of the other?
Seeing that, at what point are you confidently locking in on Lafreniere as a shooter?
Is there anything about that shot release that tells you early where it is headed?
If there was a pass, would you be sliding or coming across on your skates?
THE PRO READ
Let’s hear how Hellebuyck approached this play:
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- Hellebuyck breaks down his save on a 2-on-1 rush against the New York Rangers, with Alexis Lafreniere carrying and Artemi Panarin as the passing option.
- Hellebuyck reads pass angle early — upward, flat, or downward — to determine whether to hold position, judge distance, or commit to a slide before the shot or pass develops.
- Even before the play enters the offensive zone, Hellebuyck is gathering information on player handedness and positioning to anticipate whether a pass will be downward, flat, or upward.
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